Opening device



May 22, 1934- D. G. MAGILL 1,959,378

OPENING DEVICE Filed Feb. 20. 1931 Z |NvENToR VZTTORNE? Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STA'lfES PATENT ortica AOPENING: `DEVICE Application February v20, 1931, Serial-o. Y 517,249

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to a hand tool for cutting a fibre tube container and has particular reference to a tool for completely severing the endfrom the container to gain access toits contents. Y

The principal object of the present .invention is the provision of a hand tool adapted to fit over and sever the closed` end of a fibre `tube container during rotation between the tool and the container. Y

An important object of the invention is the provision of a hand tool for severing the closed end of a fibre tube container, said tool having a detachable and replaceable cutting element.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a hand tool for severing and guiding the closed end of a iibre tube container while holding its closure head spaced from the end of the tube to present a proper cutting surface to the cutting element.

An important object of the invention is the provision of a hand tool for severing the closed end of a bre tube rcontainer during rotation therebetween, the cuttingelement being held in cutting position throughout such severing operation,;provisicn being made for also'holding such cutting element in inoperative `and protected position when not in use.

The .invention .contemplates the utilization of a cutting element adapted for cutting engagement with the end of the tube container being severed, by asimple manipulation of the element accompanied by a .rotation'of the tool relative Yto the tube container.

Numerous other 4 objects` of :the invention will `beapparent as it is .better Vunderstood .from the -ollowing description, which, .taken ,in connection with the accompanying. drawing .discloses a pref-erred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

AFigure 1 is a bottom plan view of a cutting tool embodying the present invention, parts beingbroken away;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view'taken substantially along theline 2.2in Fig. 1, showing the tool applied to a tube container and the cutting element` in cutting position;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken 0 substantially alongthe line3-3 in Fig..2, looking upward; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary 4 transverse `sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Figsl.

The tool, disclosed in the drawing as exem- 'plifying the present invention, is adapted tobe manually operated and to sever one end of a tube container, formed of bre or other suitable material, in order to Again access to its contents. Sucha container may be closed at its ends in any suitable manner as by inwardly curling the edges of the side walls over the cover to conne its contents in place.

Such Aa container comprises a tubular body'll adapted to hold .contents which areherein illusg5 tratedas disc-:like articles12, such as can ends or `other can parts, anda'head or cover member 13 is provided to Lhold the ,contents therein. 'The end ofthe tubular body 1l is curled 'inwardly anddownwardly in a curl orbead or rim 14, which 7g engages the top'of .thecover member' and prevents `its outward. displacement.

Apreferred form of tool comprises an annularbody 21 adapted to lit around the ,outside periphery of .thecontainen An annular'hand grip 7,5, -22 isformed integrally with the .tool body 21 and is heldin spaced relationship by Vmeans of `webs `23. Three `webs .23 are illustrated but it will be understood that any number Amay be used depending upon `the .size of the tool. Theannular member22 projects downwardly adjacent '"1 each .web ..23 and withinthe confinesof the tool body, Vforming l depending lugs 24:.having smooth bottom surfaces 25. Channels 26 toreceive vthe .tcp rim of .the container are thus 'formed be- 35 v neatlreach web 23 andbetweeneachllugan'd Athe i .inside surface of thetool body. Y

The toolbody, opposite one of Ythe Vdepending lugs 24,'projects outwardly to form aboss 5.31, which ishorizontally vslotted toprovide a cham- 9@ ber'32. One of the vertical end walls of vthe chamber is beveled at 33 to providea stop for a ,cutting element. This cutting element comprises ahandlemember 34 having ajfinger notch A35 .form-edin one of lits longitudinal .edges and 95 is pivotally mounted for movement Within the i chamber 32.0na screw'36 threadedly engaged within the lower Vwall Yof the boss 31.

The handle member 34.is.recessed atl37, onits under side to .provide a seat for a cutter blade 38 detachably held in .place by screws. One end `of the blade 38 extends .beyond the handlemember Siandtis V-Shaped Jorpointed .to provide cutting. edges 39 whichlarel further. beveled to in- .crease their `cutting effect. This detachable 105 lmountingpf .thebladeon thelhandle .member and the mounting of .the latter -within `the vtool .body permit l ready removal and .replacement of .the cutting elements for .sharpeningv ...and .other purposes- 1.10

A detent or locking device is provided for holding the cutter 38 in non-cutting or inoperative position which comprises a ball 41 resting, when in locked position, (Fig. 4) within a socket 42 formed in the upper face of the handle member, a spring 43 carried in a bore 44 located in the upper part of the boss 31 providing the proper yielding element for the ball. A setscrew 45 threadedly engaged in the upper end of the bore 44 is used to compress the spring to the desired pressure. In its protected position the cutting edges of the cutter 38 are confined entirely within the chamber 32 as shown in Fig. 1.

In operation, the tool is placed over the end of the container with the curl 14 in the channels 26, and the bottom surfaces 25 of the lugs 24 resting upon the cover member 13. A downward pressure on the tool then forces the cover member 13 downwardly and against the contents 12 in the container, which yields slightly to provide an annular space 46 between the lower edge of the curl 14 and the upper surface of the member .13 as shown in Fig. 2. The chamber 32 with its cutter 38 is located in a plane above the faces 25 of the lugs 24 and when the contents are thus compressed the cutter is in horizontal alignment with the annular space 46 and clear of both the curl 14 and the cover member 13.

The tool is then manually rotated in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3. Simultaneously with this rotation the handle member 34 is turned on its pivot, by engagement with the finger notch 35 to bring the pointed end of the cutter blade 38 into engagement with the container body wall. The point of the cutter thereupon pierces the container wall and enters into the open space 46 between the curl 14 and the cover member 13. Continued rotation of the tool further moves the handle member on its pivot until stopped by the wall 33 after which the handle and cutter are held in operating position until the curled end of the container is entirely severed by the complete rotation of the tool relative to the container.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a. preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim: Y

1. A hand tool for severing the end of a bre tube container, comprising in combination, a tool body adapted to extend all around the outside of a container and to receive the end of said container and to be guided by it during the severing operation, a cutter associated with said tool body and operating to sever the end of said container during relative rotation between it and the said tool, and means rotating with the cutter and carried by said tool body for holding the contents of said container away from the end thereof to provide a cutting space for said cutter.

2. A hand tool for severing the end of a fibre tube container, comprising in combination, a tool body adapted to receive the end of said container and to be guided by it during the severing operation, a plurality of lugs carried by said tool body for holding the contents of said container away from the end thereof, said body and lugs being adapted to rotate as a unit on the container, a. cutter associated with said tool body for severing the end of said container during relative rotation between it and the said tool, said severing taking place at a predetermined position relative to the under faces of the said lugs.

3. A hand tool for severing the curled end of a bre tube container, comprising in combination, a tool body adapted to receive the end oi said container for a severing operation, a plurality of lugs carried by said tool body for holding the contents of said container spaced from the plane of cutting thereof, and a cutter associated with said tool body adjacent one of said lugs and operating to sever the curled end of said container during Vrelative rotation between it and the said tool, said lug forming a backing for said cutter by engaging within the curled end of the inner container wall.

4. A hand tool for severing the end of a fibre tube container, comprising in combination, a tool body adapted to receive the end of said container for a severing operation, a cutter pivotally mounted in said tool body and having an operating and an inoperating position, said body having a lug near the cutter and located within the container rim when in operation, and means for locking said cutter in its inoperating position.

5. A hand tool for severing the end of-a bre tube container, comprising in combination, a tool body adapted to receive the end of said container and guide it during the severing operation, a chamber formed in said tool body, a cutter pivotally mounted in said chamber and operating while in one position to sever the end of said container during relative rotation between it and the said tool, and means for holding said cutter enclosed within said chamber in a protected and inoperative position.

6. A hand tool for severing the end of a bre tube container, comprising in combination, a tool body adapted to receive the end of said container for a severingroperation, a chamber formed in said tool body, a cutter mounted in and extending outside of said chamber to sever the end of said container during relative rotation between it and the said tool, and stop means located L21." within said chamber for holding the said cutter in extended position. f

7. A hand tool for cutting off the curled end of a container having a iibre body and a depressible cover held underthe curl, comprising in combination a tool body having means where-.- by it is centered on said curled edge, said body having means to depress the cover, and a cutter held on said tool body at the outside of the container body and at a point above the cover "i230 when the latter is depressed, the tool being turnable with said cutter around the container body. l

8. A hand tool for severing the end of a ber tube container, comprising in combination: a tool body in the form of a ring to extend around the exterior of a container and having parts rigid with the ring which are adapted to rest on the rim of the container and to extend downwardly on the inner side of the rimk to center and guide the tool body and brace the rim dur- '140 ing relative rotation between the same and the tool body during the severing operation, and a cutter associated with said tool body on the outside of the rim and operating towards said downwardly extending parts to sever the end of said container during relative rotation between the container and the said tool.

DONALD MAGILL. 

